Do you know a member of the disability community who is also a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community?
Former President Bill Clinton first declared June Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999, according to www.britannica.com. Over the last quarter of a century, the celebration of the month has expanded to be recognized as (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month. Additionally, same-gender marriage was legalized nationwide in 2015. Despite these victories and increased acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community nationally, members of the community have had to fight to maintain equality, dignity, justice, civil and human rights.
Historically, members of the disability community have also had to fight for acceptance and to maintain human rights. Even though the disability community and the LGBTQIA+ community experience similar struggles, it has also historically been hard for people to answer the question presented as an opening to this article. The Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) became aware that many individuals who identify as part of the disability community and the LGBTQIA+ community do not feel as though they are welcomed, or belong, in either community. ACIL has hosted inclusive LGBTQIA+ awareness presentations and support groups to help address the issue.
The fact that members of the disability community are often left out of LGBTQIA+ historical and pride discussions likely contributes to individuals not feeling like they are a part of either community. The remainder of this article will discuss people with disabilities who are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community to help bridge the gap and illuminate some of the similar struggles.
19th century English Poet, Lord Byron is known for being one of the most notorious, flamboyant poets of his time. He was a bisexual man who had a clubfoot. His clubfoot is often left out of his story. He was sadly taught by his family that it needed to be corrected. He became very ashamed of it and went to great lengths, often wearing boots, to hide it per a page dedicated to him on www.poetryfoundation.org. Hopefully, if Lord Byron were alive today, he would understand that a disability is not something to be ashamed of but rather a source of pride
While the sexual orientation of painter, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect Leonardo Da Vinci is debated, it is thought that he was a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. While he was famous for his many talents and achievements, a list of historical figures with disabilities on www.masters-in-special-education.com, reveals something few people know about Da Vinci. He lived with multiple disabilities including Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition similar to Epilepsy, and a paralyzed right hand. The paralysis of Da Vinci’s hand forced him to leave many paintings, including the Mona Lisa, unfinished. Da Vinci is proof that people with disabilities can accomplish great things even if their disability forces them to do so a little differently.
Feminist, suffragist, and poet Eva Gore-Booth was a lesbian. She played a key role as a committee member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage in Britain and was a member of the British Peace Movement in World War I. An article on www.makingqueerhistory.com describes how she completed her life’s work while living with Tuberculosis and other chronic illnesses. Eva’s accomplishments prove that members of the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities have been making an impact, not just nationally but throughout the world for centuries.
Not many people know why Frida Kahlo, who was openly bisexual despite being married to a man, became a painter. She was born able-bodied and acquired a disability after an iron handrail went through her pelvis during a traffic accident resulting in chronic pain for the remainder of her life. An article listing 10 things people may not know about Frida Kahlo on www.artfinder.com, states that while she showed an interest in art from a very young age, Frida did not actually start painting until her hospital stay following her accident so she may not have become a painter had she not become a person with a disability. Her life proves that acquiring a disability does not have to define a life but often turns it in a whole different direction.
Bobbie Lea Bennet was a disability and transgender rights activist. She used a wheelchair due to the rare bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta. After fighting for four years to be able to even determine if she was a candidate for gender-reassignment, Bobbie had her surgery after having been told that Medicare would cover the cost. It was not until after her surgery that Bobbie realized the cost was not covered. She drove from San Diego, California to Baltimore, Maryland to demand that Medicare honor its agreement to reimburse payment for her sex reassignment surgery; her successful claim brought visibility to efforts to secure rights for transgender people, according to an article about queer and disabled histories on www.unlockingwords.com. Bobbie and her family were in the news prior to her advocacy efforts involving Medicare because her sister carried her child. Bobbie proved that members of the LGBTQIA+ and achieve anything in life, it just requires a little thinking outside the box.
As the first Black woman elected to Congress from the South, Barbara Jordan, is a leader in the Civil Rights movement. Born and raised a Texan, she had Multiple Sclerosis, was the first woman elected to the Texas Senate in 1966, joined the US House of Representatives in 1972, and earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Clinton in 1994. In her work as a Congresswoman, Barbara focused on sponsoring bills that supported services for marginalized groups. The fact that Barbara was a lesbian was never discussed publicly but her family and friends were well acquainted with her partner of 30 years, Nancy Earl, according to an article in Philadelphia Gay News about the intersectionality of LGBTQIA+ and disability history. Barbara was known for being a very determined person, which makes sense because her life proved that determination pays off.
The article above also mentions Nyle DiMarco. An American actor, model and LGBTQIA+, and Deaf/hard-of-hearing activist, Nyle attended Gallaudet University and graduated in 2013 with a degree in mathematics. He began his career in an independent American Sign Language Films production, “In the Can” and also played a recurring role in the television show, “Switched at Birth.” Nyle made history in 2015 when he won “America’s Next Top Model.” In 2016, he became the first Deaf contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” which he won with professional partner Petra Murgatroyd, making disability and queer history. Additionally, he founded The Nyle DiMarco Foundation, which provides resources to Deaf children and families that year.
In 2017 he was honored as Deaf Life Magazine’s Person of the Year. Nyle’s life is proof that advocates do not have to stay on a single path to be a trailblazer.
The people mentioned above are just a few examples of activists and historical figures who are members of both the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities. Sharing their histories and amazing accomplishments shows the beautiful things that can happen when communities intersect and sheds light on how far society has come in terms of acceptance. ACIL staff hopes that in the future the intersectionality of the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities will be highlighted and talked about more during as well as outside of Pride month and lead to even further acceptance. We will do our part by sharing articles like this and making sure that everyone feels welcome in our center and free to access our services while being their authentic selves regardless of disability, sexuality, or any other characteristic.
Do you have suggestions as to how ACIL can help bridge the gap between the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities? Contact Executive Director Jeremy Caffee at 937-341-5202 Ext 101 or [email protected].
